New Sporting CP B boss Luís Martins on the weekend's Ledman LigaPro action

Luís Martins took charge of Sporting CP B for the first time this weekend, in a tough away visit to Gil Vicente. Although behind on two occasions, a spirited Alvalade slide were able to secure a point.

Luís Martins leads Sporting CP B for the first time, with draw in Gil Vicente

Sporting CP B still haven't quite found their winning form, but the performance against the powerful Gil Vicente was a clear sign of things to come for the side now led by Luís Martins. The Alvalade youngsters dominated possession and led the shot count against the Ledman LigaPro promotion contenders.

Pedro Silva on the weekend's Ledman LigaPro action against Gil Vicente

Sporting CP B keeper Pedro Silva sat down with the press this Friday to look ahead to the weekend's Ledman LigaPro action, which will see his side face Gil Vicente.

"Gil Vicente are a hard team, especially when they play on a good pitch. We want to turn things around as quickly as we can and winning is our only option", said the Sporting CP B shotstopper, continuing to speak about the recent change of management: "João de Deus going took us by surprise, but the club thought it was the best decision for what we need right now. We already know the new coach and we are sure things will work out well. Change always brings hope in football."

João de Deus on Saturday's draw with Gil Vicente

A win is proving harshly difficult to come by for João de Deus' side so far this season. Despite outperforming Gil Vicente, for the full 90 minutes, the visitors were able to steal a last minute draw at the Sporting Academy.

"We were missing a bit in terms of positioning, which is what we worked on during the week. After coming from behind I wasn't expecting us to let the win slip. We have to stop making the kind of mistakes we have been. There is a still a lot of football to play and the lads are still getting to know each other", said the Sporting B at the final whistle, adding a word on the presence of senior squad stars Ricardo Esgaio, Bruno Paulista and Matheus Pereira in him team: "They are great players and they were brought in to help us. We are a really young side and having players like that with us will help us grow."

Pedro Marques on target twice in Gil Vicente draw

Pedro Marques continued his fine scoring form this weekend, grabbing a brace in a draw against Gil Vicente after the visitors to the Sporting Academy scored a last gasp goal.

"Even though we scored, it wasn't enough. I am upset because we didn't win. That is what we wanted to do", said the forward, who has now scored three goals in a week after a fantastic strike against Real Madrid in the UEFA Youth League.

A visit to Desportivo das Aves awaits next week, which for Pedro Marques is the perfect opportunity to start climbing the Ledman LigaPro table: "We can't let our guard down now. We have to roll out sleeves up and put the work in to get the win."

Sporting B see points snatched away by late Gil Vicente equaliser

João de Deus' side haven't had the easiest start to the season, with the league standings speaking for themselves after seven matches: one win, one draw and four loses. The statistics however are a harsh reflection of what have been some solid performances, worthy of much more.

Up this weekend for Sporting B at the Academy was Gil Vicente. Reinforcements were brought in from the senior squad, with Ricardo Esgaio coming in and putting on the captain's armband, accompanied by Bruno Paulista and Matheus Pereira.

The first-half was largely uneventful for the most part, before coming alive just before the break. In fact, Pedro Silva was only called into action for his first save of the afternoon after 30 minutes, following a free-kick by Bruno Silva. At the other end, the Gil Vicente keeper Júlio was also given a quiet start, only being called into action after 36 minutes when Guima floated in a cross that was headed towards goal by Ronaldo Tavares.

Sporting CP pushed the pace just before half-time and both Pedro Delgado and Matheus Pereira tried their luck from range, but to no effect.

Fifteen minutes in the dressing room with João de Deus proved to be just what the players needed and Sporting B came out looking like a different side. Playing higher liners, the Alvalade side began to carve out more space going forward. However, a cool head was missing in the final third and good build up play only occasionally turned into clear chances.

One minute before the half-hour mark Ricardinho made the most of a hashed clearance from Pedro Empis inside the area to give Gil Vicente what was largely an undeserved lead, against the run of play.

Who better than Pedro Marques, the forward from Belenenses who captured attention in midweek for his UEFA Youth League goal against Real Madrid, to level the scoring, with a hammering header after a cross from Pedro Empis.

On 71 minutes Pedro Marques completed the Sporting B comeback with a fantastic turn and snap shot on goal after a counter-attack lead by Matheus.

The fans were out of their seats ready to dash off to beat the traffic with the three points sealed, but Gil Vicente had other ideas and on 90 minutes a kind deflection was enough to wrong foot Pedro Silva and level for the visitors.

João de Deus on his side's 2-0 win against Gil Vicente

João de Deus was understandably happy with his side's 2-0 win against Gil Vicente this weekend, although his side could well have won by a bigger margin.

"It was a completely deserved win. I think we showed a bit of tiredness after playing on Sunday, Wednesday and then Sunday again, but we still could have scored six or seven today. We didn't, but we are pushing up the table and I am obviously happy about that", said the Sporting B coach, adding a word on his team's progress thi season: "Some of the lads were struggling for a place a few months ago, but they have earned their opportunity and today they are consistent players. I don't like to point out individuals, but two examples of that are Rúben Ribeiro and Mama Baldé. They are consistent players who contribute to the overall quality of the team."

Daniel Podence reflects on Sporting B's win against Gil Vicente

One of the crucial pieces of Sporting B's recent string of results, Daniel Podence was again in fine form against Gil Vicente. Speaking with radio journalists following the afternoon's action, the young striker was keen to thank his teammates: "It is always nice to score and to play well, especially when the team wins, but if it wasn't for the rest of the team I wouldn't be able to live my dream. It was a great win against a really difficult team. It was really competitive and the first-half was really balanced, but we scored from a well rehearsed play and then Francisco Geraldes pulled off a brilliant pass to set me up."

Naldo and Podence on target to continue Sporting B revival

João de Deus was back on the bench this weekend after serving a suspension and the Sporting B coach's side paid tribute with yet another win in what is becoming a solid run of results. With a virtually unchanged 11 - the only alteration being the introduction of Nalo in place of Rukas - Sporting B again dominated, showing some classy stuff against one of Ledman LigaPro's stronger sides.

The encounter got off to a sluggish start, with neither team willing to risk too much going forward. The first notable opportunity came after a link up between Fábio Martins and Daniel Podence, but the former's shot ended up high of the cross bar. Gil Vicente's only chance of the half came a couple of minutes later, with a move down the right flank ending up in a dangerous cross that was however headed over.

The clearest chances were made to wait until jsut before half-time, both falling to Sporting B. The first came from a quick break lead by Podence after his side stole back possession, eventually releasing  Francisco Geraldes through on goal for a shot that pulled the best save of the half out of the keeper. The second came through Daniel Podence after an excellent cross from Rúben Ribeiro down the left, but the striker was unable to find the mark.

The second-half brought with it the expected forays forward for both sides in search of the three points. Opening proceedings was Francisco Geraldes with a shot just wide of the post, before Ryal Gauld found space out wide and floated in a cross that Naldo converted on to finally open the scoring. The goal actually opened up play even further and Gil Vicente took control for a spell as Sporting B fell back, however João de Deus' side were looking particularly cool when closing down the visitors' attacks and never really looked like conceding.

Gil Vicente's most notable spell came through a more physical approach to the afternoon, but it was Sporting B who struck. the visitors pushed a little to high in search of points and the team from Alvalade made the most of it to use the space off the back line. First Pondence put a shot wide, before turning creator and picking out Geraldes with a superb pass that the youngster carmly put past the stranded Gil Vicente keeper to seal the points.

João de Deus on his side's draw with Gil Vicente and the injury to Seejou King

The serious injury picked up by Seejou King unsurprisingly overshadowed João de Deus' post-match press conference on Saturday afternoon, after his side's draw with Gil Vicente.

"We aren't happy, especially because we have lost another player to a serious injury. Even if we had have won, it wouldn't be the same with what has happened", opened the Sporting B coach, adding: "In relation to the match, it was split between both teams. When they had a player sent off, Gil Vicente fell back and we dominated. However, we let in another goal from a deadball situation. We knew Gil Vicente are dangerous from that kind of thing and we didn't do well enough to stop them."

Speaking specifically on the injury to Seejou King, João de Deus said: "I don't think anything more has to be said. The way everyone is feeling right now is enough. It is a tough time for us all and we have to get through it. Something similar had already happened with Mauro Riquicho. We hope the two recover as quickly as possible and can start helping the team again."